Greetings,

An update on some important and fun things happening in April:

Cumberland Wild 2009

What is the place of South Cumberland State Recreation Area in the larger landscape?

That is the question that participants in Cumberland Wild 2009 will be considering at the environmental leadership roundtable breakfast on Saturday, April 18, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Cumberland Wild, the Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area’s annual forum, will be the kick-off event at Trails and Trilliums, to be held at St. Andrews-Sewanee School the weekend of April 18-19. Key environmental groups will be represented at this breakfast event in Spencer Room in Langford Hall on the St. Andrews-Sewanee campus.

Representatives from The Land Trust for Tennessee, the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation, Sewanee’s Environmental Institute, the South Cumberland Regional Land Trust, Friends of SCSRA, and the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance, as well as Tennessee State Naturalist emeritus Mack Prichard are expected. A free continental breakfast will be served.

Trails and Trilliums, now in its sixth year, includes a plant sale, hikes, garden tours, workshops, an art show, and more. There is a $10 registration fee. For more information on Cumberland Wild, contact Mary Priestley at 931-598-0157 or marypriestley@bellsouth.net.

Mack Prichard Honored with Yeatman Environmental Education Award

Mack Prichard, Tennessee’s longtime and recently retired State Naturalist, is the 2009 recipient of the Yeatman Award for Environmental Education. This award, named for noted environmental educator Dr. Harry Yeatman, Professor Emeritus from the University of the South, is given annually during Trails & Trilliums. Prichard will be honored at an evening reception, Wine & Wildflowers. The event will take place April 18 at 5:00 pm in the Courtyard Garden of the Monteagle Inn.

Also honored will be The Land Trust for Tennessee in appreciation for their efforts in preserving the South Cumberland. Jeanie Nelson, President and Executive Director of The Land Trust for Tennessee, will be present to receive the organization award.

Wildflower Updates Posted in the Friends BLOG

Our park rangers are providing wildflower viewing updates several times a week, visit http://blog.friendsofscsra.org for the lasted info - subscribe to the blog feed and you will be automatically notified when new information is posted.

Pictures in the Park Photo Contest - Make Your Entry Soon!

The contest, which runs through May 30, 2009, is open to all ages. Suggested topics are: people enjoying the park, landscapes, wildlife, and plants. Photos may be realistic or creative/abstract. Those that show recognizable park features are encouraged.

Friends board member Latham Davis has created a promotional poster which you can download here.

Environment and Conservation Provides Update on State Recreation Plan
Public meetings announced to solicit participation and input on statewide plan
 

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will hold a series of public meetings in April to discuss the Tennessee Recreation Plan, which identifies opportunities for statewide recreation.  The public is invited to attend and provide input about the plan.

Every five years the state is required by federal statute to prepare a State Recreation Plan to identify potential issues and needs for statewide recreation.  The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation coordinates the State Recreation Plan update, recognizing current efforts, trends and needs in recreation development and delivery statewide.  Upon the National Park Service’s approval of a completed plan, Tennessee becomes eligible for continued funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.  The plan includes both outdoor and indoor recreational opportunities. 

“With a due date of September 30, 2009, the process for a new plan has begun, including a peer review from several groups and input from the public,” said Mark Tummons, director of the Recreation Educational Services division.  “This is a thorough undertaking and not only will it culminate with a very defined State Recreation Plan, it also will be included as part of the state’s 10-year Land and Water Conservation Strategy.”   

Guidelines for preparing a State Recreation Plan require that Tennessee appoint an advisory committee to oversee the planning process.  Appointed by Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke, the Tennessee Recreation Advisory Committee includes representatives with a broad range of recreational interests and expertise from various geographic regions across Tennessee.

According to Tummons, input on recreation issues from a wide spectrum of citizens, agencies and public officials is vital to the process and helps prioritize recreation needs and guide distribution of grant funds, land acquisitions and facility/site developments.

Four regional public meetings have been scheduled across the state to facilitate input April 6-9, including:  

·         Farragut – April 6, Farragut Town Hall, 11408 Municipal Center Drive, 6:30 p.m. 

·         Chattanooga – April 7, Coolidge Park / Walker Pavilion, 150 River Street, 6:30 p.m.

·         Jackson – April 8, Jackson City Hall, 119 East Main Street, 6:30 p.m.

·         Murfreesboro – April 9, Patterson Park Recreation Center / Dining Hall, 521 Mercury Boulevard, 6:30 p.m.

In addition, several working groups will hold meetings April 13-16 to discuss recreation and conservation priorities in four pre-determined focus areas.  To be held at the Clover Bottom Mansion in Nashville on April 13 and at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage April 14-16, these meetings will be used to guide the development of the State Recreation Plan.

For more information about Environment and Conservation’s Division of Recreation Education Services, visit the Web site www.tn.gov/environment/recreation. The current 2003-2008 State Recreation Plan may be viewed at www.tn.gov/environment/recreation/pdf/rec_plan_final.pdf.

Best wishes,

Ron Castle

Webmaster & Board Member
Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area, Inc.

South Cumberland State Park
11745 US 41
Monteagle, Tennessee 37356-7609 USA

Visitor Center & Park Headquarters 931 924-2980

Park Headquarters FAX 931 924-2956

Stone Door Ranger Station 931 692-3887

Savage Gulf Ranger Station 931 779-3532

Ron's Phone 931.962.8665
roncastle@roncastle.com
Skype ID roncastle

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